Fabric artist takes gallery visitors on Magical Journey

Magical Journey

Catherine Whitnall

Carousel quilts - Debbi Smith spruces up the Christmas tree in the A. Sheila Boyd Gallery which is home to the Magical Journeys exhibition by Margaret Franklin of hand-stitched quilts, toys and T-shirts - even ornaments - featuring carousel horses and other critters. The items remain on display until the end of January.

(BOBCAYGEON) Most people don't like going around in circles, but Margaret Franklin revels in every opportunity.

Throughout December and January, the A. Sheila Boyd Gallery in Bobcaygeon will be filled with her colourful carousel creations - quilts, toys, t-shirts and ornaments - as part of her Magical Journey.

Ms Franklin has loved, and been inspired, by carousels all her life; she has been a member of the National Carousel Association since 1991. She takes that passion and transposes it, stitch by delicate stitch, onto fabric, chronicling both her journey through life and her own personal challenges. For her, work is more than just beautiful.

"She is truly inspiring," said Barb McFadzen, curator of the Boyd Museum and volunteer with the gallery.

In 2004, Ms Franklin was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a neurological condition that is part of the Austism Spectrum Disorder umbrella.

Since then, the Oshawa-based fabric artist has worked to prove to herself, and others, that it in no way will slow her down.

The idea of The Autism Awareness Carousel, which eventually changed its name to The Carousel of Friendship, came to her shortly after her second Geneva Autism Symposium in 2008. It combines her interest in carousels with her desire to educate people about life on the autism spectrum. She invites participants of all ages and abilities to share their creative talents by decorating or drawing their own carousel animals which she has been immortalizing on a series of quilts which she sells to raise funds for the project.

Ultimately, she dreams to someday create a real carousel with full-sized wooden animals for every to enjoy.

Over the years, Ms Franklin has also spoken at Community Day presentations and appeared on a local cable show in 2009.

She has completed courses in marketing and photography at Durham College, studied fashion and creative expression at Durham Continuing Education and, more recently, created papier-mache prototypes, which are display during her exhibition.

Her articles have appeared in The Carousel News and trader, Merry-Go-Roundup and the Living With Autism newsletter. She also has her own monthly online blogzine, Planet Nilknarf, where she shares her cartoons and chronicles her travels, musings and creative projects.